Mortar for amalgam and the like



April 14, 1970 w. E. TWEEDIE, JR 3,506,206

MORTAR FOR AMALGAM AND THE LIKE Filed, Dec. 1967 N TOR.

INVE 5 /11 75R f. TWffU/f, JK.

ATTOKNEV5 United States Patent 3,506,206 MORTAR FOR AMALGAM AND THE LIKE Walter E. Tweedie, Jr., 301 Castenada Drive, Millbrae, Calif. 94030 Filed Dec. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 689,047 Int. Cl. A61c /06; B02c 19/08 U.s. Cl. 241-285 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a mortar for working and containing amalgams and similar materials employed for dental fillings and, more particularly, is directed to a mortar from which excess material may be readily ejected.

In the prior art, mortars are commonly employed to work material for various purposes. These mortars generally take the form of smooth bowl-like receptacles designed to cooperate with a mating pedestal. With such mortars, worked material is generally removed with a spatula-like instrument. Certain mortars even provide means for forming and ejecting material in slugs of a predetermined size. Prior art mortars have been characterized, however, in that no convenient means has been provided for the removal of adherent residual material therefrom.

The latter characteristic has proven particularly disadvantageous in the dental art where the Worked material is generally an amalgam or other filling material of extremely adhesive qualities. It was with an aim towards avoiding this characteristic that the present invention was developed.

The mortar of the present invention comprises a base member having a receptacle forming recess formed in one side thereof and a slide extending across the recess to provide a removable bottom therefor. In the preferred embodiment, joining recesses are formed in opposite sides of the base member and the slide is disposed therebetween to selectively open and close the recesses to communication with each other. This arrangement, in effect, provides two independent receptacles with a common removable barrier therebetween. As thus constructed, the mortar provides two receptacles, each of which may be of a different geometrical shape and/ or size than the other.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of the present invention to provide a mortar of simple construction having a removable bottom to facilitate the ready ejection of material therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mortar having dual recesses for the working of material therein.

With respect to the latter object, it is yet another object of the invention to provide such a mortar wherein the recesses are formed in opposite sides of a common body member and adapted to be, selectively, opened and closed to communication with each other.

These and other objects and the specifics of the invention will become more apparent when viewed in light of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in elevational section, showing the mortar in closed condition and a carrier being 3,506,206 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 charged with amalgam contained in the upper recess of the mortar;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, in section, showing the mortar in opened condition with a probe instrument (illustrated in phantom line representation) extended therethrough;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mortar in closed condition; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane designated by line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

In the drawings, the mortar is designated in its entirety by the numeral 10, and is shown as being used in combination with a dental carrier or gun 12. The carrier is of the conventional type employed to collect amalgam and effect its selective dispensing. As shown, the carrier comprises tubular tip and body portions 14 and 16, respectively, and a grip 18. Although not illustrated, it is to be understood that the carrier houses a spring biased plunger which may be selectively depressed to effect the discharge of amalgam through the tip 14.

The mortar 10 comprises a base member made up of two sections 20' and 22 assembled to define a slot 24 therebetween. The sections 20 and 22 have conical recesses 26 and 28, respectively, formed therein and extending therethrough into communication with the slot 24. Each recess converges inwardly of the base member and defines a mouth at the side of the member through which it opens. The inner ends of the recesses communicating with the slot 24 define a composite aperture establishing communication between the recesses when the portion of the slot therebetween is unobstructed. The composite aperture is made up of apertures 30 and 32 defined by the edge portions of the recesses 26 and 28, respectively, opening into the slot 24.

The slot 24 extends transversely through the base member of the mortar between the recesses 26 and 28 and slidably receives a panel or slide 34. The panel 34 is of rectilinear configuration and comprises: a grip portion 36 extending laterally of the base member of the mortar to facilitate manual sliding of the panel within the slot; an aperture 38; and, a closed section 40. Through this arrangement, the panel may be slid within the slot 24 between opened and closed positions relative to the composite aperture defined by the apertures 30' and 32. In the opened position, the aperture 38 is aligned with the composite aperture, while in the closed position, the section 40 is aligned with the composite aperture. Both the aperture 3 8 and the section 40 have an area equal to or greater than the area of the composite aperture. Thus, in the opened and closed positions the composite aperture is completely open or completely closed. In the closed position, the section 40 extends across the apertures 30 and 32 and, in effect, forms a bottom for each of the receses 26 and 28.

Slidable movement of the panel 34 is limited by a set screw 42 threaded into the section 22 and having a head disposed within the slot 24. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the head of the screw 42 is positioned to abut the inner end of the panel when the aperture 38 is aligned with the apertures 30 and 32. Thus, the screw 42 functions as a stop to locate the aperture 38 in a position wherein the composite aperture defined by the apertures 30 and 32 is fully opened.

In the embodiment illustrated, the sections 20 and 22 comprise independent elements secured together in faceto-face relationship by screws 44. The screws 44 extend slidably through openings provided therefor in the section 20 to threaded engagement with the section 22. The heads of the screws seat against countersunk recesses provided therefor in the upper surface of the section 20. FIG. 4 shows that the facing surfaces of the sections 20 and 22 are of step-shaped configuration and define the slot 24 therebetween.

It is here noted that the apex angles of the respective recesses 26 and 28 are dilferent. Specifically, the recess 26 has a larger apex angle than the recess 28. This provision is made so that the respective recesses may better accommodate carriers of different tip portion configuration= It is also noted that the recesses are formed with a smooth glass-like surface to minimize the adhesion of material thereto. For this reason, the sections 20 and 22 are generally fabricated of vitreous material.

In use, the mortar is prepared for the working of amalgam by turning the desired recess to an upwardly facing orientation and moving the panel 34 to the closed position. Once so prepared, amalgam may be worked within the upper recess and charged therefrom into a carrier in much the conventional manner. For the sake of illustration, a slug of amalgam is represented in FIG. 1 by the numeral 46. it is there seen, the slug is being charged into the carrier 12.

After all of the desired amalgam is removed from the upwardly facing recess of the mortar, residual amalgam may be readily removed by forcing it through-the composite aperture provided between the recesses with a probing instrument. Such an instrument is shown in phantom line representation in FIG. 2 and designated by the numeral 48. To facilitate this cleaning operation, it is simply necessary to move the panel 34 to the opened position.

From the foregoing description, it is believed apparent that the present invention enables the attainment of the objects initially set forth herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the details of the embodiment herein illustrated and described, but rather is defined by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A mortar for working amalgam and the like and containing the same for charging into a carrier, said mortar comprising:

(a) a base member having generally bowl-shaped recesses opening, respectively, through opposite sides thereof, said recesses each being of an inwardly converging configuration and having a connecting aperture therebetween at their innermost ends; and

(b) panel means operatively associated with said base member for selective slidable movement relative thereto across said aperture between a first position opening said aperture and a second position closing said aperture, said means, when in the second position, forming, at least in part, the bottom of each of said recesses.

2. A mortar according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said base member has a slot extending transversely thereacross in intersecting relationship with said aperture; and

(b) said panel means comprises a plate slidably received within said slot for movement therein across said aperture.

3. A mortar according to claim 2 wherein said plate comprises, in part, a length extending laterally of said base member through which force may be manually imparted thereto to effect said selective slidable movement.

4. A mortar according to claim 2, wherein:

(a) said plate is formed open and closed areas, each of which is equal to or greater than the area or" said apertures; and

(b) said open area is in alignment with said aperture in said first position and said closed area is in alignment with said aperture in said second position.

5. A mortar according to claim 1, wherein:

(a) said recesses are of generally cone-shaped configuration and each of a different apex angle; and

(b) the apex portions of said cones merge into said aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 625,596 5/1899 Payne 222561 1,694,524 12/1928 Zentner 241-199 1,862,870 6/1932 Tiscornia 222561 X 2,665,571 1/1954 Lochead 211--2 3,412,892 11/1968 Waksman 22090.4

FOREIGN PATENTS 370,285 4/ 1932 Great Britain.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner D. G. KELLY, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

